Box 16 on W-2

[Traep247]

Hi, I am filing my taxes myself for the first time. I have 3 W-2's, and one of them has two lines in Box 16 which doesn't make sense to me. It says one if for Massachusetts and one is for Rhode Island, but I never worked in Rhode Island. The Massachusetts line matches what my Box 1, 3, and 5 say I earned, but there is the additional "state wage" in box 16 listed for Rhode Island and I have no idea why. Any ideas? I'm not sure which to file. It was a contract position, so I was getting paid by the contracting company to work for another company. Not sure if that information helps or not.

Edit: I have not lived or worked in Rhode Island. I live in Mass, and worked in Mass.

[VictoriaD75 · Accepted solution]

If you did not work or live in Rhode Island, you should not have taxable income in the state. If you were traveling to Rhode Island for the work, then you have income to report. Income is taxed where earned or where you live. It does not matter where the company is located.

You may be able to contact the employer to discuss the state information and try to receive a corrected W-2. Or, if there was withholding for the state of Rhode Island, then you will need to file a nonresident return to obtain a refund of the withholding. You would be able to adjust the amount of income earned in the state on the return. If not, you should not have a filing requirement for the state of Rhode Island if no income was earned there and the W-2 income would be reduced to $0.

[Ashambles]

You'll have to check with whoever provided your W-2 to see what that's about. It may simply be an error. In the meantime, if the MA amount matches your wages, you should be able to complete your Federal and MA state returns.

[Traep247]

I did not work or live in Rhode Island at any point last year and have not any any other point in time. The Massachusetts line matches what I have in box 1, but the Rhode Island seems to be an additional line form nowhere. Am I ok to file the Massachusetts line since it matches up and then contact my employer about the error?

[VictoriaD75]

Yes. As stated before, you may not have to file a Rhode Island return at all. It depends on whether or not they withheld taxes for that state. Contact the employer and see if they will issue a corrected W-2.

[Traep247]

Awesome, I will file the Massachusetts tax documents now and contact my employer for a corrected W-2. Thank you very much!